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D espite a rise in DIY enthusiasm in recent years, as evi
denced on websites such as Etsy and Pinterest, sewing
is in danger of becoming a lost art. But for the group
that meets every Monday evening at the community center in
Rocksprings public housing, it's a source of community-build
ing, joy and hope.
The two-dozen or so people gathered around sewing
machines tonight are mentors or adult students in the Women
to the World foundation's local PALS (Partnering Ambassadors
for Life and Service) program, which provides GED and voca
tional training as well as various life skills courses to Athens
women in need. Other PALS classes have ranged from CPR and
first-aid training to photography.
This course is Phase 2 of the "PALS of Athens Musicians"
initiative to create a local sewing cooperative. Once the
women in the class master basic sewing skills, they will begin
producing pillow dolls that celebrate local music-scene lumi
naries. Prototypes featuring Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes rest on
a table near the refreshments.
The project is the brainchild of Emily Blalock, a lecturer
in the department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors at
UGA. Prior to creating the sewing co-op, she traveled with
Women to the World founder Doris Aldrich to Burkina Faso,
where she led an entrepreneurship class for women. Through
the university, Blalock developed the Ghana Community Trade
Program, which connects female entrepreneurs in the Ghanaian
textile trade with female boutique owners in Athens. Under her
supervision, UGA students on an interdisciplinary study abroad
trip are able to act as buyers for the Athens stores.
"I grew up in a single-parent household," says Blalock, "and
I watched my mom work really hard, like sometimes three jobs
at a time, and I just have a very special passion for women,
adult women. I've been fortunate enough to work with women
in Burkina Faso and a little bit in Ghana, and so I'm just
excited to be part of something in Athens, which has women
who are so needy and hungry and want to make a better situa
tion for their families."
All 12 of the women in tonight's sewing class are studying
for their GEDs. They also participated in an entrepreneurship
course taught by Blalock last fall and winter. Though many
more women in the PALS program were interested, Aldrich
and Blalock decided to keep the new project small at first,
not wanting to spread its resources too thin. They have been
impressed by the dedication of the women chosen—the first
day of class, every one of them showed up half an hour early.
From the outset, PALS of Athens Musicians has been a true
community effort, with volunteers from all walks of life donat
ing their talents.
The seed money that allowed Phase 2 to get underway was
raised by a fashion show in April organized by the [ambjient-
made collective, comprised of local designers Alexis Sturgess,
Meredith Thornhill and Brandon Spell. Though the group began
with only $300 to produce the show, donations from local busi
nesses and an audience of 200 people helped them raise $910
for PALS of Athens Musicians. This contribution paid for sewing
machines and other needed materials. All artwork was donated
by friends of Blalock, and sewing aficionados of various ages
and backgrounds have signed on as mentors.
Tonight's training session is led by Lillian Kincey, a retired
school administrator. Kincey has plenty of experience teach
ing others to sew; she founded and still advises the Young
Designers Sewing Club, which serves students in grades four to
eight from Gaines Elementary and Hilsman Middle School. Her
younger students have made pillowcases for the homeless shel
ters in Athens and a quilt for a children's hospital in Atlanta,
and they have progressed to making their own clothes.
"To me sewing involves so many skills that it is perfect
for young people to become involved in," she says. "It cov
ers reading, lots of math, abstract thinking, problem solving,
concentration, fine motor skills, task completion, self-esteem.
I could go on and on." Working with adults has also been a
pleasure, she found. "I love the fact the women want to learn
something new and that they are so enthusiastic."
The mentors and students are clearly enjoying themselves as
they work on piecing together patchwork squares to form small
pillows. At the beginning of class, each student showed off the
tote bag she sewed and decorated the previous week, while
the others clapped and exclaimed. Mentors and students are
all smiles as they pin their pieces and guide the fabric through
the machines.
Mentor Patti Hunt-Hurst, who heads the Textiles,
Merchandising and Interiors department at UGA, has been
sewing all her life and volunteered after seeing a poster on
campus. "It seemed like a way to give back and do something
fun," she says.
Wanda Maddox, who is working with Hunt-Hurst, has more
sewing experience than most of the students; years ago, she
worked at a sewing plant in Athens sewing the buttonholes
on pants, and for fun she has done crochet, needlepoint and
macrame projects. But this is her first time learning to create
things with a sewing machine, even though her mother was
proficient. "My mom used to sew clothes for us kids. She made
our Easter dresses," she recalls.
Other students in the class had never done any kind of sew
ing before. "I'm learning a lot," says Angela Ware. "I didn't
think I had the patience. But we're enjoying it."
Soon, the women will move on to making the pillow dolls.
Apart from Barnes, the first batch will include likenesses of
Hope For Agoldensummer's Claire Campbell, Widespread Panic's
Dave Schools and Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood, and
Blalock is currently working through R.E.M.'s office for per
mission to use Michael Stipe's image. The pillows, which will
raise money to grow the program, will debut in a booth at this
year's AthFest.
But pillow dolls are only the beginning. Once the women
in the program have become proficient with sewing machines,
clothing companies Spanx and Evoshield will begin offering
contract work to them. Blalock's hope is to develop the pro
gram to the point where participants can earn a living wage
with their skills.
"The mission of PALS of Athens Musicians is to give them
real skills-training, which could provide job opportunities
independently," she explains. "But we want to focus on pillow
dolls first, just because Athens is music, and we want to get
people's attention to PALS, to say, 'Hey, there are women who
are struggling, but they want to make a difference, and they
have tenacity, and they have passion. And the second thing,
the long term goal, is small-scale Made in Athens sewing
contracting."
Blalock and Aldrich hope that in two-to-three years, the
project will be able to employ 12 women full-time and to
gradually add more workers.
Though the program has received an outpouring of support,
it still needs more volunteer mentors. (Women to the World is
a faith-based Christian organization, but religious affiliation
isn't required of participants or volunteers.) Additional sewing
machines top their wish list, and fabric scraps are also helpful.
Interested parties may also donate by writing a check to the
Women to the World organization and indicating that they wish
the money to go to PALS of Athens Musicians.
For more information, visit Pals of Athens Musicians on
Facebook or womentotheworld.org. If you are interested in vol
unteering or donating, contact palsathmusic@gmail.com.
C.J. Bartunek
8 FLAGPOLE.COM-MAY 29, 2013
(LTO R) WANDA MADDOX AND PATTI HUNT-HURST. PHOTO BY EMILY BLALOCK